Business of supply: consideration of main estimates

<div class="DecisionMain" role="main"> <p class="decision-chapter"> Committees / Committee of the Whole </p> <p class="d-DecisionDate"> <time>May 16, 2016</time> </p> <p class="e-Debates"> Debates, <a href="https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/house/sitting-56/hansard#Int-8927296">pp. 3408–9</a> </p> <div> <h2 class="f-contextResoEdNotePostscriptTitle">Context</h2></div> <p class="g-contextResoEdNotePostscript">On May 16, 2016, pursuant to Standing Order 81(4)(a), the House resolved into a committee of the whole to consider the votes under National Defence in the main estimates for the fiscal year ending <span class="NoBreak">March 31, 2017</span>. Before beginning the debate, the Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole (Bruce Stanton) made a statement about how the proceedings would be conducted. He explained that each member who spoke would be allocated 15 minutes for debate and for asking the minister questions and that, on being recognized, the member would have to indicate to the Chair how the period would be used. He added that, should members wish to use their time to make a speech, it could last a maximum of 10 minutes. He stated that, if the time was to be used for questions and comments, the length of the minister’s response should reflect approximately the time taken by the question. He said that ministers and members should be referred to by their title or riding name. He concluded by saying that, when the committee rose, the votes under consideration would be deemed reported, and the House would adjourn immediately <span class="NoBreak">until the following day.</span></p> <h2 class="h-statementDecisionChair">Statement of the Chair</h2> <p class="i-speakerPara_1"><strong class="Speakbold">The Deputy Speaker:</strong><span> I would like to open this committee of the whole session by making a short statement on this evening’s proceedings.</span></p> <p class="j-speakerPara_2">Tonight’s debate is being held pursuant to Standing Order 81(4)(a), which provides for each of two sets of estimates selected by the Leader of the Opposition to be considered in committee of the whole for up to four hours. Tonight will be a general debate on all of the votes related to National Defence.</p> <p class="j-speakerPara_2">The first round will begin with the official opposition, followed by the government and the New Democratic Party. After that, we will follow the usual rotation. Each member will be allocated 15 minutes at a time, which may be used both for debate and for posing questions. Should members wish to use this time to make a speech, it can last a maximum of 10 minutes , leaving at least 5 minutes for questions to the minister.</p> <p class="j-speakerPara_2">When a member is recognized, he or she should indicate to the Chair how the 15-minute period will be used. Members should also note that they need to have unanimous consent of the committee if they wish to split their time with another member.</p> <p class="j-speakerPara_2">When the time is to be used for questions and comments, the Chair will expect that the minister’s response should reflect approximately the time taken by the question.</p> <p class="j-speakerPara_2">Ordinarily, the time taken for the response should be in line with the amount of time taken to pose the question in the first place. As has been experienced in the past, the person posing the question, though, should not be under any misunderstanding, that a question put in a very short period of time that might require a more complex response, sufficient time will be provided <span class="NoBreak">to the minister </span>to provide such a response. However, again, accordingly the time taken to respond should be approximate to the time that was taken to pose <span class="NoBreak">the question.</span></p> <p class="j-speakerPara_2">As is the case in any proceeding in committee of the whole, members need not be in their own seats to be recognized. Although members may speak more than once, the Chair will generally try to ensure that all members wishing to speak are heard before inviting members to speak again while respecting the proportional party rotations for speakers.</p> <p class="j-speakerPara_2">I also wish to indicate that in committee of the whole, ministers and members should be referred to by their title or riding name, and of course all remarks should be addressed through the Chair. I ask for everyone’s <span class="NoBreak">co-operation</span> in upholding all established standards of decorum, parliamentary language, and behaviour.</p> <p class="j-speakerPara_2">At the conclusion of tonight’s debate, the committee will rise, the votes related to National Defence will be deemed reported, and the House will adjourn immediately until tomorrow.</p> <p class="j-speakerPara_2">We may now begin tonight’s session. The House in committee of the whole, pursuant to Standing Order 81(4)(a), consideration in committee of the whole of all votes related to National Defence in the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017.</p> <p class="j-speakerPara_2">The hon. member for <span class="NoBreak">Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman</span>.</p> </div>